Monday, February 05, 2007

The Armando Iannucci Shows

“When return of the Jedi came out, there were street parties. George V came out to see it, and we were all given a silver sixpence with a picture of Queen Victoria on one side and a picture of Jabba the Hutt on the other.” (Hugh.)

Armando Iannucci is well-known for satirical TV programmes such as 'The Day Today', 'The Thick of it', and, most recently, 'Time Trumpet'. However, his greatest work is his least well-known, 'The Armando Iannucci Shows', broadcast on Channel 4 in 2001. This series offered a much more personal, philosophy-of-life style of humour. You can sample a few clips here:

“There used to be air-raids and we’d all hide in the air-raid shelter and we’d watch television. And we always watched Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush with Chris Evans. He was very good, ‘til he disappeared up his own arse.” (Hugh).